Best Podcast Episodes About South by Southwest
Everything podcasters are saying about South by Southwest — curated from top podcasts
Updated: Apr 09, 2026 – 14 episodes
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Ridealong has curated the best and most interesting podcasts and clips about South by Southwest.
Top Podcast Clips About South by Southwest
“… build itself and now i'm gonna get a knock on my door going so i'm gonna be like no that's next door and then my neighbor's gonna be gone we were at south by southwest last weekend and there was a little robot walking around like a full yeah robot walking around and like i'll post video he like he came over to a window i was in and flipped me off and like this little but it was like just a rude bot yeah yeah creepy little like thing and it's like in some ways you're kind They're like, oh, it's cute. It's doing the Macarena. It's flipping me off. But then on the other hand, you're like, that's a robot just …”
“… And now it's telling me I have to navigate. I don't know. It's because it's AI. It's AI. I knew that we were criticizing it and it came in and it just like shut you down. See, this is what happens. Terminator 2 comes out. it now starts to build itself and now i'm gonna get a knock on my door going so i'm gonna be like no that's next door and then my neighbor's gonna be gone we were at south by southwest last weekend and there was a little robot walking around like a full yeah robot walking around and like i'll post video he like he came over to a window i was in and flipped me off and like this little but it was like just a rude bot yeah yeah creepy little like thing and it's like in some ways you're kind They're like, oh, it's cute. It's doing the Macarena. It's flipping me off. But then on the other hand, you're like, that's a robot just walking around. Who was controlling the robot? I think because there were people with it. But when I first saw it, it was in a lobby of where South By was happening. And it didn't seem like there was anybody around. So I thought it was like, is this totally autonomous? But no, the next time when he flipped me off, there were guys hanging out within 10 …”
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At South By Southwest, a quirky robot was spotted flipping off attendees, sparking both amusement and discomfort. The encounter raised questions about the boundaries of AI and creative expression in public spaces, showcasing the tension between technology and human interaction. This bizarre incident highlights how AI's role in art and entertainment continues to evolve in unexpected ways.
“… about what is essential and what do we stand for, and then what are just things that are attributes of the product. So what has always been true for Southwest is not changing. We have the best domestic network. We have the best hospitality. We have the most rewarding loyalty program. We have incredible loyal customers. And the centerpiece of all that is we have the best people and not just in the airline business, in any hospitality business We are folks that are low ego and they love to serve our customers And that what is not changing That is the essential promise of Southwest Airlines When …”
“… well, there goes the soul of the airline. No more plastic boarding. We used to serve peanuts. Obviously, some folks have peanut allergies. And we changed that to pretzels, and, oh, there goes the soul of the airline. So you've got to be really clear about what is essential and what do we stand for, and then what are just things that are attributes of the product. So what has always been true for Southwest is not changing. We have the best domestic network. We have the best hospitality. We have the most rewarding loyalty program. We have incredible loyal customers. And the centerpiece of all that is we have the best people and not just in the airline business, in any hospitality business We are folks that are low ego and they love to serve our customers And that what is not changing That is the essential promise of Southwest Airlines When Herb founded this place he looked at the industry in the 70s, in the late 60s and 70s, and went, it's high fare,”
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Changing the boarding process and snack options at Southwest Airlines sparked strong emotional reactions from loyal customers. CEO Bob Jordan shares how these changes made some feel like the 'soul of the airline' was lost, despite the company's commitment to its core values of hospitality and customer service. Understanding what truly matters to customers is essential for maintaining that emotional connection.
“… insurance policy worked well. So, for example, American Airlines said in 2003 that it saved almost $150 million in fuel costs thanks to hedging. Southwest Airlines pursued an aggressive hedging strategy. The company estimated that it saved $3.5 billion between 1998 and 2008. It used these savings to expand operations and hire workers. However, Jerry says most of the major airlines in the U.S. eventually soured on fuel hedging. One reason? The Wall Street transaction fees to make these hedges got expensive. Like any insurance, there's a cost to it.”
“… in the markets on this trade. And that money helps the airline build a financial cushion for when they actually do go to pay for jet fuel. It's really viewed as insurance to protect the financials against a sudden spike in jet fuel. And for years, this insurance policy worked well. So, for example, American Airlines said in 2003 that it saved almost $150 million in fuel costs thanks to hedging. Southwest Airlines pursued an aggressive hedging strategy. The company estimated that it saved $3.5 billion between 1998 and 2008. It used these savings to expand operations and hire workers. However, Jerry says most of the major airlines in the U.S. eventually soured on fuel hedging. One reason? The Wall Street transaction fees to make these hedges got expensive. Like any insurance, there's a cost to it.”
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Airlines used to save millions through a strategy called fuel hedging, locking in lower oil prices to protect against spikes. For instance, Southwest Airlines saved $3.5 billion from 1998 to 2008, using that money to grow their operations. However, rising transaction costs led major U.S. airlines to abandon this effective financial strategy.
“… making that movie. It was so much fun making that movie. Do you love it? I had a blast. Oh, it was great. I loved – the first time I saw it was at South By when we were all seeing it together, which was really, really exciting. And I was stoked for it. I think for a while – Nick and Brian know this. I feel comfy saying this is that I was terrified of it for – like during the filming process and then during the edit after hearing how things were just developing. And it's their future debut, and so they would update me very, very consistently on what the ins and outs were looking like when it …”
“… to do that. Yeah, they were being very, very sweet because that was the only thing I had to do that day, thank God. And they were very sweet to be like, hey, it's really hot. We should do this quick. Yeah. Which was nice. Which is nice. It was so fun making that movie. It was so much fun making that movie. Do you love it? I had a blast. Oh, it was great. I loved – the first time I saw it was at South By when we were all seeing it together, which was really, really exciting. And I was stoked for it. I think for a while – Nick and Brian know this. I feel comfy saying this is that I was terrified of it for – like during the filming process and then during the edit after hearing how things were just developing. And it's their future debut, and so they would update me very, very consistently on what the ins and outs were looking like when it came to just getting the trailer figured out and even working out like what the title was going to be. and why it ended up being named what it is. And that was a weird thing to be in the loop of Yeah Which I hadn been used to so that was a little bit more high stress and i felt really good once we saw it yeah i feel like it was it felt like chaos …”
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Gaten Matarazzo shares the chaotic behind-the-scenes of his new movie, revealing he was 'terrified' during filming and editing. His candidness about hating downtime after 'Stranger Things' and the absurdity of the movie's humor make this segment a delightful listen.
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In a hilarious analysis of 'Surf Ninjas,' the hosts dive into a ridiculous discussion about Leslie Nielsen's anatomy, debating whether his bulge is robotic or just well-placed. The absurdity escalates as they ponder the logistics of transporting goods in a children's movie, leading to comedic insights about dynamite and accidental mass destruction.
“… was like five years ago, right? And he's like, no, man, that was like eight months ago. and since this is only our second time on a stage, it's at South By one year later, I re-watched, first of all, show of hands, was anyone here last year? That's awesome. I'm really excited that there's somebody here. So this might be fun because I took a lot of the things we answered and takes that we had on current stories and things have changed quite a bit. So I figured we'd kind of do a quick run through those. Is this takes from last year? This takes from last year or news things that were happening …”
“… the office all the time that tech moves so fast that us covering tech are horrible with timelines. There's so many times we write or talk on the podcast or are just talking in general where somebody will say, oh, yeah, remember the humane AI pin? That was like five years ago, right? And he's like, no, man, that was like eight months ago. and since this is only our second time on a stage, it's at South By one year later, I re-watched, first of all, show of hands, was anyone here last year? That's awesome. I'm really excited that there's somebody here. So this might be fun because I took a lot of the things we answered and takes that we had on current stories and things have changed quite a bit. So I figured we'd kind of do a quick run through those. Is this takes from last year? This takes from last year or news things that were happening last year. So the first thing we talked about actually was Apple Intelligence. I think the day before we got on stage was Apple officially delaying Apple Intelligence, which is a very... Which time? I think it was the first official time. So we were post-launching 16 built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence. With all the ads, yeah. That didn't …”
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Siri's advancements have been underwhelming, and Apple's delays in delivering a truly capable AI assistant highlight its struggle to keep up with competitors.
Siri's development has been disappointingly slow, and Apple's AI advancements are lagging behind expectations, with features still not meeting user demands.
Apple's AI advancements, particularly with Siri, are lagging behind expectations and competitors like Samsung's Bixby.
Apple's AI advancements, particularly with Siri, are lagging behind expectations and competitors, highlighting a significant gap in their innovation timeline.
“… not know how to film it. We lost all the footage, so we can't show it. Yeah, exactly. Okay, so two months down, month three, there's another trip to South by Southwest, and I was just like, Rich, we are going on this trip. Gotta go. Both of us are going to shoot everything. And I think that this was the turning point for us. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, so we went to South by with all the pod boys. There's a great story about this. Wait, what's the great? The hotel story. Bro. Oh, two, yeah. Oh my God, I forgot about that. There's so much good stuff. There's so much good stuff that did not make the cut. I tell that …”
“… I had with Yiddle one that is already being solved by Yiddle two is in Yiddle one, we just keep constantly winning all the time, like it makes working here look really easily, but that's just because when stuff went really bad, we'd like lock in and not know how to film it. We lost all the footage, so we can't show it. Yeah, exactly. Okay, so two months down, month three, there's another trip to South by Southwest, and I was just like, Rich, we are going on this trip. Gotta go. Both of us are going to shoot everything. And I think that this was the turning point for us. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, so we went to South by with all the pod boys. There's a great story about this. Wait, what's the great? The hotel story. Bro. Oh, two, yeah. Oh my God, I forgot about that. There's so much good stuff. There's so much good stuff that did not make the cut. I tell that story. Somewhat know this. Which hotel story are we talking about? Because there's. I just know South by is really confusing, and we're figuring this out right now, booking again. In order to get a hotel at South by, you need a badge. And Vox handles our badges, so Vox booked our hotels, but since you guys aren't hosts on the podcast, we had to get …”
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Ridealong summary
After losing critical footage during a chaotic trip to South by Southwest, the team faced unexpected challenges that tested their resolve. They scrambled to find a new hotel and ended up with a hilarious story about cold water and unexpected bed-sharing. This experience ultimately transformed their approach to filming, making their next project a standout success.
“And that is interesting, Lori, because I'm an old timer. I remember 20 years ago when fuel prices soared, I think up toward $150 a barrel. And Southwest was famously hedged and most of the other U.S. majors were not. And Southwest had an advantage for years, a competitive advantage for years. So you're saying that's not the case. It's a level playing field this time. It's definitely a level playing field. And I think over the past five, 10 years, airlines have decided it's better just to take your chances in the market than get snowed under in hedges that you're going to lose money on. …”
“And that is interesting, Lori, because I'm an old timer. I remember 20 years ago when fuel prices soared, I think up toward $150 a barrel. And Southwest was famously hedged and most of the other U.S. majors were not. And Southwest had an advantage for years, a competitive advantage for years. So you're saying that's not the case. It's a level playing field this time. It's definitely a level playing field. And I think over the past five, 10 years, airlines have decided it's better just to take your chances in the market than get snowed under in hedges that you're going to lose money on. That's what Southwest said when they were ending it was, you know, with the exception of a couple of years, you know, in the last 10 to 15 years, this was not a lucrative arrangement for us to keep those hedges in place. So when this started happening, you know, reached out to Southwest to say, hey, are you thinking this might be part of your strategy …”
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U.S. airlines, unlike two decades ago, are no longer hedging against fuel prices, leading to a level playing field in the industry. While Southwest Airlines has opted out of hedging entirely, European airlines are reacting differently, with some cutting capacity due to less favorable protections. This shift highlights how airlines are adapting to fluctuating fuel costs in real-time.
“So I was at South by Southwest last week, Adam. And on Wednesday, which was the final day of South Byte, there was a session that was David Pogue, who many people in the Apple universe know. He obviously is an author. Maybe not, obviously. He is an author. He's written a lot of books about technology and Apple. He's CBS Sunday Morning for the last number of years. He wrote for Macworld Magazine for a long time. Longstanding journalist in the community. he just put out a book …”
“So I was at South by Southwest last week, Adam. And on Wednesday, which was the final day of South Byte, there was a session that was David Pogue, who many people in the Apple universe know. He obviously is an author. Maybe not, obviously. He is an author. He's written a lot of books about technology and Apple. He's CBS Sunday Morning for the last number of years. He wrote for Macworld Magazine for a long time. Longstanding journalist in the community. he just put out a book Apple the first 50 years and this session was ostensibly him telling stories from his book he's on a book tour but it wasn't because he was joined by Phil Schiller for this particular session David's been going around the country doing these book tour things promoting his book But I think this was the only one where he had Phil Schiller with him. …”
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At South by Southwest last week, David Pogue hosted a session with Phil Schiller that turned into a treasure trove of untold Apple stories. Initially hesitant to attend, Pogue's decision to go led to candid revelations from Schiller, who shared anecdotes not even included in Pogue's new book about Apple. This unexpected depth made it the most revealing session of the event.
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Earthworms play a crucial role in composting, acting as natural aerators and breaking down organic waste. In this segment, we explore how these creatures, along with microbes, transform banana peels into nutrient-rich humus. Understanding this process highlights the interconnectedness of life in our compost piles.
“… work-life balance. But yeah, that's 90% of it. It's a very boring answer. I'm sorry. Where are you based out of? I forget. I live in Charleston, South Carolina. Please visit me. Charleston. Yes, yes, yes. Well Justin we obviously love you Nick and I have been telling everyone we very protective over this cast Not that anyone has even muttered a bad word about you but I think we'll always have this first season kind of thing that we all did together, none of us knowing really what it was. But we divulged and did it together, and it turned out pretty amazing. So we are big fans of you. We …”
“… people with dementia and Alzheimer's. But it's a very like demanding job. So I I've really just been focusing exclusively on that and trying to exercise a little bit, too, because you could just like lose yourself and work sometimes. So trying to find work-life balance. But yeah, that's 90% of it. It's a very boring answer. I'm sorry. Where are you based out of? I forget. I live in Charleston, South Carolina. Please visit me. Charleston. Yes, yes, yes. Well Justin we obviously love you Nick and I have been telling everyone we very protective over this cast Not that anyone has even muttered a bad word about you but I think we'll always have this first season kind of thing that we all did together, none of us knowing really what it was. But we divulged and did it together, and it turned out pretty amazing. So we are big fans of you. We really hope that you find love and you get married and you have feelings. I would love all of those things to happen. And I do want to say like, thank you so much for like, you guys were so kind. You like, you went out of your way and I think we all kind of got in trouble for it, but like you went out of your way to come over and like say hi to …”
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In this segment from 'The Viall Files: Reality Recap', Justin shares his experience on the social experiment reality show, 'Mormon Wives'. He reflects on forming deep connections with cast members and the overwhelming nature of returning to his demanding job in healthcare. The conversation highlights the genuine friendships formed and the show's unique approach to reality television.
“… very intimidated by what we're doing here in Iran. We talked about this a little bit in a couple of the shows last week, too, and the Japanese, South Koreans, we were moving troops. We're also moving weapon systems now to the Middle East. And also, they are going to feel the energy costs spike even more acutely than we will because that's where they're getting their energy from. Right. They get almost all their energy, Japan certainly, from abroad anyway and a lot of it from the Gulf. So, yeah, totally. So they're losers on this. And again, word consulted. Japan's kind of an important ally. …”
“And if the Chinese are watching this, it's like we can't keep the strait open. You know, the strait between Taiwan and China is a lot tougher to deal there with the Chinese military than the Iranian military. So I don't think they're getting very intimidated by what we're doing here in Iran. We talked about this a little bit in a couple of the shows last week, too, and the Japanese, South Koreans, we were moving troops. We're also moving weapon systems now to the Middle East. And also, they are going to feel the energy costs spike even more acutely than we will because that's where they're getting their energy from. Right. They get almost all their energy, Japan certainly, from abroad anyway and a lot of it from the Gulf. So, yeah, totally. So they're losers on this. And again, word consulted. Japan's kind of an important ally. We not going to make a decision on the Gulf based on Japan and they wouldn expect us to Would they expect to get a phone call at some point saying hey heads up So again just treating them as if we don care what they say which Trump doesn I suppose One point Bob makes that I hadn really thought about is the Gulf states themselves I mean they've sort …”
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The ongoing Iran war is diminishing U.S. credibility with allies, particularly Japan and South Korea, who rely heavily on Gulf energy. As American military actions falter, these nations are questioning their partnership with the U.S., which has failed to consult them on critical decisions. This situation is not only straining relationships but also emboldening adversaries like China, who see the U.S. as less intimidating.
“… And I'm just grateful that I don't have to fly in this nonsense right now because, honestly, flying coach sucks anyway. I don't know why people like Southwest Airlines. It's like, oh, wait, hold on. I could be the first person to sit in the uncomfortable seat for the longest amount of time when I'm number one through 20. Really? Really? Like, you know, really? Why would you want to be first on a plane where the seats are 18 inches wide and my shoulders are 24 inches wide? Why would you want to be there the first? No. It's like arriving an hour early for church. No, no, no. No, my mom made me do …”
“talking about what Congress is doing now that the TSA shut down and the airports, the lines are absurd. And I'm just grateful that I don't have to fly in this nonsense right now because, honestly, flying coach sucks anyway. I don't know why people like Southwest Airlines. It's like, oh, wait, hold on. I could be the first person to sit in the uncomfortable seat for the longest amount of time when I'm number one through 20. Really? Really? Like, you know, really? Why would you want to be first on a plane where the seats are 18 inches wide and my shoulders are 24 inches wide? Why would you want to be there the first? No. It's like arriving an hour early for church. No, no, no. No, my mom made me do that. Anyway, this is Heritage Foundation talking about what members of Congress are doing while we suffer. There are reports in social media that the airlines are escorting members of Congress around the long TSA lines. and no world should members of congress make themselves exempt from what they're subjecting their constituents to and so that …”
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Members of Congress are reportedly skipping the long TSA lines that average travelers endure, highlighting a glaring inequality in air travel. This elitism raises questions about accountability, as lawmakers should experience the same frustrations as their constituents. Ironically, while they bypass security, funding for TSA remains in limbo, potentially leading to more chaos for everyone else.
“French, South Korean leaders have decided they are going to work on keeping the Straits of Hormuz open. Isn't that amazing? When you have a president... The United States imports. ...who has some cojones. Almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait. Yeah. and won't be taking any in the future. We don't need it. He basically told him the other day, he said, here's the deal. We've got plenty of oil right here. If you want oil through the Straits of Hormuz, you …”
“French, South Korean leaders have decided they are going to work on keeping the Straits of Hormuz open. Isn't that amazing? When you have a president... The United States imports. ...who has some cojones. Almost no oil through the Hormuz Strait. Yeah. and won't be taking any in the future. We don't need it. He basically told him the other day, he said, here's the deal. We've got plenty of oil right here. If you want oil through the Straits of Hormuz, you depend on it. You're on your own. We haven't needed it, and we don't need it. We've beaten and completely decimated Iran. We are decimated, both militarily and economically and every other way. And the countries of the world that do receive oil through the Hormuz Strait It must take care of... Wow, this is kind of strange to see Donald Trump weaning …”
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Trump's Iran policy is forcing European and Asian allies to take responsibility for their own energy security, reducing U.S. dependency on the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic move to push EU and NATO countries to become self-reliant and stop depending on the U.S. for oil and military support.
Trump's decision to blockade the Strait of Hormuz is portrayed as a strategic move to force other countries to become self-reliant and reduce dependency on the U.S.
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is a strategic move by Trump to force other countries to take responsibility for their own energy security.
The U.S. no longer needs oil from the Strait of Hormuz and is encouraging other countries to take responsibility for their own energy security.
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Top Podcasts on Trump and Iran Tensions
The Trump administration is dealing with increasing tensions with Iran, particularly concerning the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This situation is critical as it affects global oil supply routes and has significant geopolitical implications. The tech industry is monitoring the situation due to potential impacts on global markets and cybersecurity threats.